Towamencin Police. Photo by Tony Di Domizio.
Derek A. Melville, of Valley Forge Road, failed all field sobriety tests, police said
A Worcester Township man has been charged with his fourth DUI offense – thus making it a felony – after being involved in a 3-vehicle crash in Towamencin Township the evening of April 5.
Derek A Melville, 45, of the 1700 block of Valley Forge Road, was allegedly the driver of a silver 2004 Mitsubishi Galant that collided with a silver Kia Sportage at the intersection of Valley Forge and Morris roads at 9:45 p.m. April 5, police said.
Police were on patrol in the area when they found a crash that had just occurred, with both vehicles facing northbound and blocking Valley Forge Road. The Kia sustained serious damage to the driver’s side and the Mitsubishi had damage to both sides of the car, police said.
Melville was smoking a cigarette in the driver’s seat when police approached his vehicle, and when asked if he was injured, Melville allegedly slurred his words and told police his neck was sore.
He told police he was southbound on Valley Forge Road, facing Morris Road at a green light, but did not know how the accident happened, police said. Melville told authorities the next thing he knew he was spinning out and struck the Kia, which was stopped in the northbound lanes of Valley Forge Road, police said.
A third vehicle, a silver Ford Explorer, was stopped in the westbound lane of Morris Road, and the driver told police they were on westbound Morris Road approaching Valley Forge Road at a steady green light when Melville allegedly failed to stop for a steady red light and hit the driver’s side of the Ford, spinning out and hitting the Kia.
The driver of the Kia told police she was stopped for a red light on Valley Forge Road, and witnessed the Mitsubishi spinning toward her, police said.
Police smelled an odor of alcohol coming from Melville and he confirmed he was drinking earlier in the night, but had his last drink at 3 p.m., according to the affidavit.
Melville was given field sobriety tests, and told police he declined EMS and that he had bad balance, police said. Police said he failed the tests and was placed under arrest at 10:15 p.m.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
